DEAR DR. FOX: Why haven’t puppy mills been closed down after all these years of documented abuses? My neighbor has taken in two poor dogs who’d been kept in small cages for years to produce puppies. They are slowly coming around and enjoying life, but don’t know how to play, and one is still very scared outside her new home. -- R.G., Minneapolis, Minnesota

DEAR R.G.: I asked my old friend and colleague Bob Baker, executive director of the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation (www.maal.org), to answer your important question.

Baker writes:

“Inhumane conditions have been exposed at commercial dog breeding facilities, aka puppy mills, as far back as the 1960s. Congress finally took action in 1970 and amended the federal Animal Welfare Act to specifically address concerns about puppy mills. Congress mandated that commercial dog breeders be licensed, regulated and inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“Since this federal involvement in addressing puppy mills, more than 20 states have also enacted some form of legislation to regulate them, and three states and over 350 local municipalities have outright banned the sale of dogs in pet stores.

“Animal welfare organizations have made great strides in closing down some of the most egregious puppy mills over the years, and have significantly increased the standards of care for the breeding dogs who are confined in puppy mills. In several states, such as Missouri, the standards of care have been improved dramatically. In Missouri, 1,200 puppy mills voluntarily shut down rather than comply with the new standards of care enacted with the passage of the Canine Cruelty Prevention Act in 2011.

“In addition, there have been countless media exposes on the cruelties of puppy mills, and numerous consumer warnings on the risks of purchasing a puppy from a pet store.

“Regrettably, puppy mills continue to flourish. Without a doubt, the vehicle and the stimulus for the continuing sale of these puppies is the internet. E-commerce has become the principal marketplace for the sale of puppies from large commercial dog breeders. It has allowed breeders to avoid the stigma of marketing dogs through pet stores, which have been so widely criticized. In addition, for many years, internet sales of puppies have been ignored by USDA and currently are only given minimal oversight and thus are allowed to operate with impunity.

“E-commerce also allows puppy mills to camouflage the substandard housing and the wretched living conditions of the breeding stock. Most of the websites display cute puppies in idyllic settings, often showing dogs running free in spacious yards and fields. The adorable puppies pictured in such beautiful, serene backgrounds prove too much for a prospective puppy purchaser. Oftentimes, the purchasers are fully aware of the risks of buying a puppy over the internet, and have been cautioned to visit the breeder to ensure that their new puppy only comes from a reputable source. The almost universal response from such consumers is, ‘The puppy pictured on the website was just too cute to resist.’

“What is the answer? Undoubtedly, we need to continue to aggressively lobby for stronger laws and we need to advocate for much stricter enforcement of our current laws, especially by the USDA. And we need to incessantly remind consumers that they are not ‘rescuing’ a puppy when they purchase from an online seller, but rather, they are sentencing the mother and father of that puppy to a lifetime of misery in a puppy mill!”

Dr. Fox here: I would add that appeals to the American Kennel Club to become involved in inspections and accreditations have not been responded to, beyond the AKC saying that it is not a regulatory organization -- even though it registers and provides “papers” for puppy mill breeders’ pups.

Puppies are often imported from abroad, sometimes illegally, an issue that calls for constant vigilance -- especially since diseases and parasites new to the U.S. dog population could be carried by these dogs. (For details, see cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/operation-dog-catcher.html.)

People considering bringing a dog or puppy into their homes should either adopt from shelters or visit the breeder to see the parents and how well they are cared for.

EXPANDED PET FOOD RECALL

The FDA has widened a recall of Sportmix products that contain corn and were made at the Midwestern Pet Foods’ Oklahoma plant. Seventy dogs have reportedly died after eating Sportmix products contaminated with aflatoxin, and at least 80 more have been sickened. Anyone whose dog or cat has eaten one of the recalled products should contact a veterinarian, even if the pet does not appear to be ill. (Full story: CNN.com, Jan. 12)

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox’s website at DrFoxOneHealth.com.)

DEAR READERS: Please read this announcement from the American Association of Feline Practitioners regarding the group’s policy on elective declawing procedures:

The AAFP “is proud to announce a policy update ending elective declawing procedures (onychectomy) for felines in all designated Cat Friendly Practices. ... The AAFP and the International Society of Feline Medicine established the Cat Friendly Practice program as a global initiative elevating care for cats. A CFP designation is a recognized symbol of excellence showing a practice’s commitment in treating feline patients gently and with respect.”

The group says this new policy went into effect for existing CFPs Jan. 1, and “will be standard in all new practices that wish to earn the designation moving forward.”

More details from the press release: “Feline declawing is an elective and ethically controversial procedure that is not medically necessary in most instances. Many regions throughout the world, including portions of North America, have banned declawing procedures unless there is a necessary medical reason. Many cat caregivers may not realize scratching is a normal and essential feline behavior that relieves stress and allows cats to fully stretch their bodies. With proper education provided by CFPs, cat caregivers will have a better understanding of the procedure and potential risks associated with it.”

The AAFP has also developed a Claw Friendly Educational Toolkit (catvets.com/claw-friendly-toolkit), and the group’s Cat Friendly Homes website contains educational resources on the topic for cat caregivers (catfriendly.com/scratching).

DEAR DR. FOX: I put a shelter in my yard for a stray cat, who seemed to be quite old. Eventually he would come to be fed when I called him. It took him about three years to put one paw on my knee, and soon after that, he would jump onto my lap to be petted. Why did it take so long, since he already trusted me enough to come and eat when called? -- V.R., Halcyon, California

DEAR V.R.: Not all cats are cuddle-pusses, and some people who adopt young cats and kittens are disappointed when they grow up to not like being picked up and cuddled. Some such cats will come and sit close by, or on one’s lap, only when they want to. This is the “independence” of cats, which some take as rejection or aloofness.

But in my opinion, it is all genetics of individual temperament coupled with the conditioning of early-in-life experiences. Some cats by nature are innately shy, introverted and cautious, while others are outgoing extroverts. There are also “ambiverts” like our rescued cat, Fanny -- who, even after three years living in our home, will only accept being petted when in her bed. She avoids physical contact with me at any other time, yet falls down in front of me when she wants to play, chasing feathers on a string.

Perhaps male cats are generally more extroverted than female cats. While it took me six months before I could even touch one feral tomcat, he became a total cuddle-puss and one of the most playful, gentle and empathetic animals I have ever known.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox’s website at DrFoxOneHealth.com.)

DEAR READERS: By fomenting fear, spreading false information and fostering prejudice and hatred, politicians and other leaders throughout history have facilitated the displacement, extinction or near-extinction of indigenous peoples and species alike.

Modern “wolves of Wall Street” continue these injustices, and not just in the United States. According to Associated Press reporter Sylvie Corbet, the U.S., Brazil, India and Russia have not yet joined the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People. This is a collaborative effort initiated in 2019 by Costa Rica, France and the U.K. that aims to protect at least 30% of the planet by 2030 and halt the extinction of species. Fifty countries have since joined -- but not the major players listed above. Let us hope that the Biden administration will bring the U.S. into this long-overdue international initiative, and encourage other countries to follow suit.

On a related note, University of Connecticut entomologist David Wagner acted as lead author on a compilation of 12 studies, done by dozens of scientists, recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The report documents the ongoing apocalypse of the insects, which Wagner calls “absolutely the fabric by which Mother Nature and the tree of life are built.” Climate change, habitat loss, insecticides, herbicides and light pollution are just some of the causes of global insect declines.

DEAR DR. FOX: I love birds. When I watch a flock fly by, I wonder if they all know where they are headed. How do they navigate? -- A.C., Brick, New Jersey

DEAR A.C.: Sometimes birds do get blown off-course by inclement weather, or fly blindly into trees when alarmed by fireworks. As a rule, they rely on imprinted, instinctual navigation systems in their brains that involve various sensitivities, including the Earth’s electromagnetic field and the position of the stars when navigating at night.

Microparticles of iron in their brains act like an internal compass; humans, bees and other creatures possess the same. In 1992, researchers identified the presence of magnetite -- a permanently magnetic form of iron oxide -- in human brain tissue. Various studies have shown that brain cells respond to external magnetic fields. EMFs (electromagnetic fields and non-ionizing radiation) generated by telecommunication systems may interfere with bird navigation and migration.

Birds are sensitive to seasonal changes in the hours of sunlight, which can trigger hormonal changes associated with the onset of the breeding season or preparation to migrate. Birds may also have a conceptual map of distinctive landmarks. It is notable how Canada geese, for example, will often circle a lake a few times before landing just to make sure it is safe.

DEAR DR. FOX: A friend has a son who is highly allergic to cats. The son lives in another state and visits once a year, at most. He complains about his father letting a neighbor’s cat come into his home, even though the cats are not allowed on the furniture or beds.

Can cat dander remain in a home and cause problems many months later, or is the son being overly cautious? -- J.C., Trenton, New Jersey

DEAR J.C.: Allergens can linger, but there are steps your friend can take. Cats’ dried saliva collects in their fur when they groom themselves, and it is a protein in this substance that causes problems for those with allergies. Wiping down cats with a moist sponge morning and evening can help those with mild respiratory and skin-contact allergic reactions. Spreading cotton sheets on furniture where cats like to lie and laundering them every few days can also help reduce the amount of dander in the home, along with a good air-filtration system.

All in all, having a cat or dog in the home helps reduce the incidence of allergies and infections (and therefore antibiotic use) in children. Dogs are of particular benefit because they get outdoors and bring home a variety of bacteria in their paw-pads. With exposure earlier in life, many children become desensitized.

MIDWESTERN PET FOOD EXPANDS DEADLY AFLATOXIN RECALL

From truthaboutpetfood.com:

“On Jan. 11, Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. expanded its recent recall to include all dry kibble pet food products containing corn that were made in the firm’s Oklahoma plant that expire on or before July 9, 2022. More than 1,000 lot codes are affected.”

Aflatoxin is a toxic, liver-damaging mold, and in this instance, at least 70 dogs have died and over 80 became ill.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox’s website at DrFoxOneHealth.com.)